Waste disposal system



July 9, 1957 c. F. BOESTER WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM Filed April 25. 1952United ttes WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM Carl F. Boester, Arlington, Va.Application April 25, 1952, Serial No. 284,357

Claims. (Cl. 4-10) The invention relates to waste disposal systems and,more particularly, to toilets for disposal of human excrement.

The main objects of the invention are to avoid the necessity of usingseptic tanks of elaboratesewage systems with consequent consumption oflargequantities of water for flushing.

An additional object is to provide eflicient waste disposal systemswhich are sanitary, preferably continuous in operation, and which do notrequire any filtrating, separating, chemical treating or settling stepsor equipment.

Another object is to provide a system which is selfcontained, havingsimple component elements, which is reliable and economical inoperation, and which is readily transportable.

These and other detailed objects will be apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, in partial vertical section, of a wastedisposal system embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the toilet andmacerator in the system.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view, in partial'vertical section, of anotherform of the invention.

Figure l of the drawings illustrates a generally closed waste disposalsystem comprising a toilet 1 having an upper bowl 2 and a lowercylindrical chamber 3 connected on its bottom wall by a downwardlydirected outlet or drain pipe 4 which extends into a verticallyelongated tank or reservoir 5 with its lower end 6 terminating wellbelow the level of liquid therein. Tank 5 is spaced downwardly from thetoilet 1 so that ample head will be provided to move waste and waterfrom toilet I through a sewaged drain or pipe 4. At its upper end tank 5may be opened or suitably provided with conventional venting means topermit escape of air or gases.

Leading from tank 5 at a point above its base, is a pipe section 7connected to the inlet or suctionside of a pump 8 which may be of thecentrifugal type and is connectedon its outlet side with a toilet supplypipe 9, the latter opening at its upper end tangentially into toilet I(as may be seen in Figure 2). The system thus co1nprises a closedcircuit wherein water from tank 5 is pumped through supply pipe 9 intotoilet 1 and is returned to tank 5 by gravity flow through drain pipe 4.Although control means could be readily provided for intermittentoperation of pump 8 for toilet-flushing action immediately subsequent toeach use of toilet I, it has been found preferable for reasons presentlyto be described that pump 8 be operated continuously whereby water isconstantly circulated through the system. The capacity-of tank 5 willdetermine the amount of water available to the system, which quantity,due to recirculation, will remain fixed during usage of the system.Normally, a 50.to--60-ga1lon tank will be sufficient to 'and carbon2,798,227 Patented July 9, 1957 accommodate a toilet utilized by six toeight persons per day.

Disposedinchamber 3 of the toilet I is a motor 10 comprising a lowercircular base plate 11 suitably mounted for rotation on the bottom ofchamber 3, and an upper annular frame member 12 in parallel relationwith base plate 11 and connected therewith by a plurality of radiallyspaced support rods 13. Centrally, the upper face of base plate 11 isprovided with a generally frustro conical grinding surface 14 forcoaction with a fixed companion grinding surface 15, provided on theinner face of a conical wall 16 forming a passage 17 leading from bowl 2in a path substantially through the center. of motor 10. The bottommargin of wall 16 is spaced from base plate 11 to permit materialcomminutedby the macerating means constituted by grinding surfaces 14,15 to be ejected therethrough against the inner wall of chamber 3. 1

Upstanding from the upper surface of the annular frame member 12 arerelatively short, radial vanes 19 for'driving impingement thereon of thestream of water flowing therein from the supplypipe 9 to cause actuationof the motor 10. Thereby relative motion is created between the grindingsurfaces 14, 15 for finely dividing solid" waste matter deposited in thetoilet I with the resultant particles being thrown violently outwardlyby centrifugal action through the discharge space between elements 14and 16 in a spray against the inner wall of chamber 3. The water flowinginto the toilet I from supply pipe 9 will be directed tangentially ofthe bowl and with sufficient velocity to entrain substantial volumesofair so as the water works downwardly through passage 17, it willbecome airy and foamy to bring air into immediate contact with wastematerial and oxidize it. The, oxidizing or so-called aerobic process isexpedited by the above described comminution of the waste matter sincemaximum surfaces thereof are presented for reaction. Thus, the aerationof the excreta will be most effective in the space surrounding passage17 into which the pulverized refuse matter has been discharged.

The organic matter comprising the waste is subjected to what might. betermed wet combustion since the high volume of air entrapped inthe waterprovides the oxygen necessary to consume the carbonaceous matter in thewaste. The oxidation products are mainly methane dioxide, which escapeas gas. As a result of the oxidation or aerobic treatment, the aqueousliquid flowing from tank 5 back to toilet I is non-toxic, clear andinoffensive. Any residual particles will be harmless and inert,comprising salts or solids comparable to ash remaining from fuelcombustion and gradually deposited on the bottom of the tank, where theymay be removed at long intervals. The water may be recirculatedintermittently or continuously through the system which is completelysanitary since the aerating step is one of purifying or septicizing. Airor gases entrainedin the water entering tank 5 from pipe 4 will bubbleupwardly through the water therein for escape at the liquid surface,wtih any air thus entrained providing a source of oxygen as it movesthrough the tank 5. Any paper entering the system will be pulverized bygrinders 14, 15 and the cellulosic particles thereby provided will bedispersed harmlessly through the water and oxidized.

Pump 8 is preferably designed for continuous running since it has beendiscovered that the entrainment of air is more readily accomplished by aconstant stream than by an intermittent one. Furthermore, thereliability of performance of the system is thereby enhanced sincemanual operation or finely adjusted controls are obviated.

Theprecise structure of toilet'l and its associated parts is not partofthis invention but is solely illustrative of any type toilet orreceptacle unit which embodies or has associate'd'witli it means wherebywaste deposited therein ties of water forjflushing purposes but thesystem is particularly advantageous for automobile trailers and forresidences located in places where there is no established sewage systemor where thewater supply is verylimited. The system can be operated at aminimum expense and the parts may be inexpensively fabricated. The pipesections may be made of hose so that an operator of an automobiletrailer could readily transport the system from place to place since theassembly and dismantling thereof would not require plumbing.

Another form of closed waste disposal is shown in Figure 3, which isdesigned for use with a conventional toilet 21 having the customary typeflush tank 22. The system comprises an enclosed tower or tank 23connected by a pipe section 24 to a pump generally indicated 25, the

oulet side of which is connected to a flush tank supply pipe 26. Leadingfrom toilet 21 is a drain pipe 27 for communication at its lower end toa grinding or macerator unit 28, connected to tank 23 by a conduit 29opening adjacent the bottom of the tank. Tank 23 is connected by a pipesection 30 to a second pump 31, the outlet side of which communicateswith a vertically extending pipe 32 having at itsuppper end a transversesection 33 for reentering a tower 36 above the tank and terminating inspray nozzles for discharging fluid in a mist-like dispersion into theair space above the liquid level in tank 23 to present waste particlescarried therein for oxidation by air entering the tank through louvresformed in the side of tower 36.

Upon flushing toilet 21, waste material will be conveyed throughmacerator 28 by the toilet effluent for comminution and the fineparticles thereby resulting will be carried into tank 23 for ultimateaeration by discharge through spray nozzles 34. By the spraying process,the ground, solid waste material is oxidized by contact with the air inthe spray tower. Pump 31 may be continually operated so that theoxidizing process is uninterrupted for assuring complete aeration of allsolid refuse matter in the tower. Pump 25 may be operated intermittentlyby manual flushing of toilet 21 and macerator 28 may be motivated by anydesired means, either with or without relation to pump 25. The systemthus accomplishes the maceration and oxidation of solid waste in definedsequence, subsequent to the removal thereof from the toilet, and isadapted for use with conventional toilet installations.

The details of construction may be varied substantially withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use ofthose modifications coming within the scope of the claims iscontemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. A unitary toilet and sewage treatment system comprising a tankadapted to contain a quantity of an aqueous efliuent, a toilet bowl,means for pumping the efiluent from the tank to the bowl for flushingpurposes, means for conducting from the bowl to the tank a mixture ofthe flushing efi luent and waste deposited in the bowl Withoutseparation thereof, means for continuously aerating the eflluent andwaste whereby the waste, including solid waste, isaerobically decomposedso that said effiuent is clear and inoffensive, said system alsoincluding macerating means whereby solid waste deposited in the bowl is4 comminuted and mixed with flushing efliuent prior to entering thetank.

2. A unitary toilet and sewage treatment system comprising a toiletbowl, a maeerating unit disposed below the level of the bowl, said unitadapted to receive and comminute waste deposited in said bowl and tointermix the comminuted waste with water, a tank containing an aqueousliquid and so positioned relative to the bowl that the surface of theliquid is below the level of the bowl, a sewage drain connected to saidmaeerating unit for carrying said comminuted waste and water mixtureinto said tank, means for continuously aerating the comminuted waste andwater mixture whereby the waste is continuously aerobically decomposedto form a clear and inoffensive aqueous liquid in the tank, a pipelinehaving an inlet above the bottom of the tank and below the surface ofthe liquid therein, said pipeline having an outlet connected to theinterior of the toilet bowl, and a pump interposed in said pipelineadapted to withdraw said clear and inoffensive aqueous liquid from thetank and discharge it into said toilet bowl and thus recirculate itthrough said system.

3. A unitary toilet and sewage treatment system comprising a toiletbowl, a continuously operable macerating and aerating unit disposedbelow the level of the bowl, said unit adapted to receive and comminuteWaste deposited in said bowl and continuously to intermix the comminutedwaste with water and entrained air, a tank containing an aqueous liquidand so positioned relative to the bowl that the surface of the liquid isbelow the level of the bowl, a sewage drain connected to said maeeratingand aerating unit for carrying said comminuted waste and aerated watermixture into said tank wherein the waste is continuously aerobicallydecomposed to form a substantially clear and inoffensive aqueous liquidin the tank, a pipeline having an inlet above the bottom of the tank andbelow the surface of the liquid therein, said pipeline having an outletconnected to the toilet bowl, and a pump interposed in said pipelineadapted continuously to withdraw said clear and inoffensive aqueousliquid from the tank and discharge it into said toilet bowl and thuscontinuously recirculate it through said system.

4. A unitary toilet and sewage treatment system comprising a toiletbowl, a maeerating unit disposed below the level of the bowl, said unitadapted to receive and comminute waste deposited in said bowl and tointermix the comminuted waste with water, a tank containing an aqueousliquid and so positioned relative to the bowl that the surface of theliquid is below the level of the bowl, a sewage drain connected to saidmaeerating unit and having its discharge end below the surface of thewater of said tank and adapted to carry said comminuted waste and watermixture into said tank, means for continuously spraying water andcomminuted waste mixture within the tank to aerate it whereby the wasteis continuously aerobically decomposed to form a clear and inoffensiveaqueous liquid, a pipeline having an inlet above the bottom of the tankand below the surface of the liquid therein, said pipeline having anoutlet connected to the interior of the toilet bowl, and a pump an airspace through which the mixture is sprayed to effect aeration thereof.

(References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Montgomery May 13,1919 Cox Apr. 2, 1935 5 Porteous Sept. 27, 1938 Durdin Jan. 9, 1940 6Brownell et a1. July 22, 1941 McPherson Jan. 28, 1947 Morgan Sept. 5,1950 Bevan July 10, 1951 McPherson July 29, 1952 McPherson Nov. 29, 1955

